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A Good Thing - October 19

Day 19 Theme: Patience and Hope

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus– Revelation 14:12

We generally tend to think of “patience” as being a passive virtue, the ability to not fret or fume when things are not going our way. However, here we see patience described in terms of action and faithfulness.

The mark of sanctified patience, we are told, is keeping the commands of God and holding to the faith of Jesus, even in the midst of great personal struggle, pain, or discouragement. It is continued and committed action in the face of overwhelming challenges.

This is not the patience that we are used to contemplating or aspiring to. This patience is not merely waiting; it is also working. But doesn’t this truth coincide with your experience as a Christian?

One of the greatest weapons the devil uses against us is discouragement. If he, then, can render us dormant and inactive by sending trials our way, then he has effectively silenced our Christian witness. The only solution for the Christian who is facing opposition or tragedy or uncertainty is therefore to continue the Christian walk, obeying their Lord’s commands and persevering in the faith of Jesus.

All of us have a tendency to just shut down—or at least slow down—when difficulties come our way. But the way of patience is to endure the trial with faithful, continual service to Jesus Christ.